40 THE VICTORIAN N4.TURALIST. 



quite a formidable affair, the one surrounding; Mildura must 

 surely be much more imposing, when we learn from the Mildwa 

 Cultivator that the place is surrounded by a barbed wire fence, 

 and, when completed, it affords a complete barrier against rabbits, 

 dingoes, and all other creeping vermin, including book agents. 



The southern stone plover is very common in these parts, as 

 is also the spur-winged plover, and of the former I obtained five 

 eggs on a small mound in a swamp, which I found whilst wading 

 for water-plants. 



Black swans ( Cygnus atrata) are very plentiful, and I was 

 informed that in the laying season at Lake Hindmarsh the eggs 

 are collected in cart-loads and sold for food purposes in Dim- 

 boola, Horsham, etc. I saw very few of these fine birds, as the 

 lake was, as I have before stated, obscured by a heavy mist. 

 Pelicans, spoonbills, etc., are here in numbers. 



Ducks of many species were somewhat numerous, and on every 

 little flat place where the water had collected the black duck and 

 another kind seemed to be numerous, the young birds being in 

 many cases just able to waddle. I could have procured some 

 for the Royal Park, but I had no means of bringing them down 

 to Dimboola. 



A curious bird attracted our attention when driving past a 

 swamp only a few miles from Albacutya station. In appearance 

 it seemed from a distance to be like a bantam hen. It ran very 

 fast, and I suspect that it was some species of the '' rail" family. 

 I do not remember having seen it before. I have since learned 

 that it is the Tribonyx. 



The well-known and beautiful mallee hen ( Leipoa ocellata) is 

 plentiful enough in the more dense parts of the mallee, and their 

 mounds were not at all uncommon. I need not describe the 

 latter, because Messrs. Le Souef, Campbell, and others have 

 already given you most interesting accounts of these most 

 singular structures. It may not be out of place to remark that, 

 to mount skins of this bird well, great care should be taken in the 

 posing as well as in the filling out of the skins. I have seen 

 several stuffed specimens, but very few I thought ever approached 

 the proper and natural position. Specimens of these (and the 

 rule applies to other birds also) should be, if possible, studied 

 whilst in the living state. 



Regarding the beetles of these parts, I may say that I saw 

 very few indeed, but then I was too early for them, as I recog- 

 nised many plants which, when in flower, are frequented by 

 insects of all kinds, and I have no doubt but that it is a good 

 place for collecting beetles during the summer months, as I have 

 had some rare species from the Wimmera, amongst which were 

 Stiginodera Foi'timmi, St/gm. vitiicollis, Stigm. Bakewelli, Xypeta 

 grailaria, Tryphocharia Mitchelli, and many others. 



